Richard Attenborough Centre

The Centre is an arts education centre which aims to make arts education accessible to all – especially those with disabilities and those who have previously found access to formal education difficult. It is part of Leicester University’s Institute of Lifelong Learning, but serves the wider community as well.

The purpose built Centre, with a high standard of disability access, was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, in May 1997. A large hall with a sprung floor is a focus for dance, music and other performing arts courses and events. There are well equipped studio spaces for groups to work on sculpture, painting, ceramics, drama and music.

The Centre aims to encourage adult learners to participate in a wide range of arts activities at many levels. Courses are run in performing arts, practical art skills, theoretical studies in art history, and vocational training for careers in the arts.

There is a regular programme of concerts, dance, drama and art exhibitions.

Richard Attenborough Centre
University of Leicester
0116 252 2455
Contact: RACentre@le.ac.uk
Link: www.le.ac.uk/racentre

The brief

The Centre staff wanted to be able to support an artist in the creation of new work, with an exhibition as a definite outcome at the end of the residency. They were looking for an artist who would set up a creative dialogue and be able to act as a role model for their students, as well as deliver workshops and teaching. An exhibition of quality work was seen as a means of generating wider public awareness of the Centre and its work, as well as providing a unique developmental opportunity for an artist.

The Artist Karen Welsh